Puzzle



(No Model.)

.D. H. KENT. PUZZLE.

No. 463,903. Patented Nov. 24, 1891.

DEVILLE II. KENT, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

PUZZLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,903, dated November24, 1891.

Application filed June 9, 1891. Serial No. 395 652. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DEVILLE H. KENT, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Puzzles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in a new and improved puzzle, which, while verysimple in its construction, so that it can be manufactured and placed onthe market at a small cost, requires considerable ingenuity and skill toproperly solve it, and the invention will be hereinafter fully describedand claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top perspectiveview of my new and improved puzzle or game. Fig. 2 is a diametricalsection of the same.

Referring to the several parts by their letters of reference, the puzzleis formed of the base or board A, which is preferably made of such sizethat it can be conveniently held and.

manipulated by the hands or by one hand. This board is preferablycircular in form and is provided at its outer edge with theupwardly-extending rim or flange B. In annular grooves in the upper partof the board is secured the lower edge of a small ring 0, leaving anannular space between the said ring and the outer edge rim or flange B.In the ring 0 is formed a series of openings or arches D, preferablytwelve in number, the loweredges of these openings being flush with theupper surface of the board A. The central space on the board, which isinclosed by the ring 0, is called the lobby. The annular space betweenthe ring 0 and the outer flange B is divided bythe radial partitions Einto the twelve compartments or spaces G. In one side of each of saidspaces is arranged a small inclined block F, which is preferablyprovided with a vertical flange a, and communicates at the point f withthe open space in its compartment, this open space Gr being termed theoffice. The several openings D communicate with the inner ends of theoffices G and the floor of the lobby. The lower edges of the openings Dand the floors of the offices G are on the same level, all lying in thesame horizontal plane. The several openings'D are marked with thenumerals 1 2, &c., up to 12 to distinguish them and their compartmentsinto which they open from each other.

This puzzle is played with the device just described and with a smallsphere or ball H of such size that it will easily pass through theopenings D. This ball is placed in the open central space, the lobby asit is termed, and represents the office-seeker. The several compartments(indicated by the numeralsfrom 1 to 12) are supposed to represent thehighest twelve offices that are elective by the people, as follows: 12,President; 11, Vice- President; 10, Congressman; 9, Governor; 8,Lieutenant-Governor; 7, Secretary of State; 6, State Treasurer; 5,Attorney-General; 4E, Comptroller; 3, State Engineer; 2, Judge of Courtof Appeals; 1, State Senator.

The puzzle is held in the hands with the ball 11 in the center or lobby,and the object is by tilting the device to cause the ball to roll intoeach office through the opening D and then up the incline F, over thetop of the ring 0, back into the lobby again, and so on into each officein succession, passingin turn through the offices from No. 1 to 12, thelatter being supposed to represent the \Vhite House. Each office must beentered success ively by passing through its opening D, and must be leftby passing up its incline F and over the top of the ring 0 back into thelobby, the tops of the inclines F being flush with the top of the ring0. If the office-seeker represented by the ball II should get into anyoffice but the one next to that which he has already occupied, he isdefeated and must make a new run by going back and starting again atNo. 1. If the office-seeker enters the office and comes out through theopening D, instead of passing up the incline and over the top of thering, he is defeated and must make a new run, or if the office-seekergoes back into the office which he has just left by the incline he isdefeated and must make a new run.

The rules governing the puzzle can of course be changed or modified atwill.

It will be seen, more particularly by refer ence to the sectional view,Fig. 2, that the several parts are so arranged that each incline F, overwhich the ball runs in passing from a compartment, is directly oppositean arch or opening D 011 the other side of the lobby, so that when theboard is tilted to cause the ball to run up over one of the inclines itwill be very apt to continue directly across the lobby into thediametrically-opposite arch or opening D, thus adding greatly to thedifficulty of the puzzle and to its interest.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it Will be seen that my new and improvedpolitical puzzle is extremely simple in its construction,and cantherefore be manufactured and placed. on the market at a small cost,while it is extremely interesting and in structive and will requireconsiderable attention and skill to properly solve it.

IIavin g thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. A puzzle, substantially as described, comprising the base, the outercircular rim, the inner ring having a series of openings, the

vertically-disposed radial partitions extending from the inner ring atpoints between the openings therein to the outer rim, andradially-disposed inclines arranged Within the compartments,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a puzzle, the combination, with thebase having the outer circularrim, the inner ring having a series of radially-disposed openings, andthe radial partitions extending from the inner ring at points betweenthe openings therein to the outer rim, of the radially-disposed inclinesarranged in the compartments at the side of the openings leadingtherein, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DEVILLE H. KENT.

Witnesses:

II. A. CLURTSMAN, W. S. KNAPP.

